Replacing ND5XS

Posted by: Bob the Builder on 08 September 2017

I have the opportunity to trade my ND5XS plus my 250-2 for a non DR Nap 300 obviously this leaves me without a dedicated streamer and in need of a renderer of some sort. My main source is my LP12 and I use the ND5XS only for streaming Tidal or Internet Radio I do not have a Nas any CD'S and only own 20 or so High Res music files and maybe a 100 mp3 type files in the shape of free downloads that came with the vinyl copy.

I already have a Chord 2Qute and an old USB to Spdif converter that I use when streaming from my Macbook to the Nd5XS. Yesterday as a test I connected my Macbook directly to the 2Qute connected to my 282 via the Spdif converter and whilst streaming Tidal I noticed almost no reduction in SQ except a slight hiss on some tracks than from the ND5XS into the 2Qute.

So my questions are should I buy a much better USB - Spdif converter and stream direct from my Macbook and if I did would a software package like Roon improve SQ or would it just be for convenience? Or should I buy a Mac Mini or something like a used Auralic Mini with Roon?

I would go for SQ over convenience everytime and although App's are nice just connecting my Macbook up and opening up Tidal or an Internet Radio station direct or accessing my very few downloads from my downloads folders would not be an issue as I have said my main source is vinyl.

Budget for Spdif converter, Mac Mini or an Auralic type solution would be between 150 - 400 obviously this means used which is not an issue for me.

Again thanks for all your help.

Posted on: 09 September 2017 by Timo

Sonore's Microrendu seems very well received by computer audiophiles. I have no experience with the Mircorendu, but I have to admit I am very intrigued -- though I fear it might not be as convenient as using an ND5XS. However, if one wants to walk down the Roon route (499 USD for lifetime membership), this might not be an issue. Personally, I am not quite ready to splash out almost 400 GBP for Roon...

The Microrendu (new) is beyond your budget. However, Sonore has recently released a new Ultrarendu, making me wonder whether Microrendus might pop up at good prices in the second-hand market.

Posted on: 09 September 2017 by Dave***t

Rob Watts has claimed that the Hugo deals with jitter much better than most other DACs, and so optical connection is the best choice a lot of the time. That's certainly what he used to say at least.

If the 2Qute is similar in that regard (which one would expect it to be), and as you say it's not a problem to use your laptop, is your Macbook one of the models with an optical output?

There's also the option of something like what I've been playing with recently - a rapsberry pi with a hifiberry digi+. It might sound offputtingly tech nerdish, but it's actually quite easy to put together, and only comes to a bit over £100.

Posted on: 09 September 2017 by Timo

Dave***t posted:
There's also the option of something like what I've been playing with recently - a rapsberry pi with a hifiberry digi+. It might sound offputtingly tech nerdish, but it's actually quite easy to put together, and only comes to a bit over £100.

Do you use your Raspberry/Hifiberry with Volumio? I read good things about Volumio, and wondered whether it was a convenient audioplayer.

Posted on: 09 September 2017 by Brubacca

A MicroRendu is a great option. They sound phenomenal, but you will have to get an upgraded power supply to sound its best.

Eveb used it probably out of your budget, but well worth stretching the budget. It doesn't support internet radio like the ND5XS. Your server or control app have to do that. I never used that feature so I haven't gone down that path.

Posted on: 09 September 2017 by Dave***t

Timo posted:
Dave***t posted:
There's also the option of something like what I've been playing with recently - a rapsberry pi with a hifiberry digi+. It might sound offputtingly tech nerdish, but it's actually quite easy to put together, and only comes to a bit over £100.
Do you use your Raspberry/Hifiberry with Volumio? I read good things about Volumio, and wondered whether it was a convenient audioplayer.

Yes, I use Volumio. Often the raspberry pi related discussions I've seen tend to bogged down by technical issues around USB options and suchlike. I don't really understand why people are so attracted to USB solutions. Maybe it's precisely because it opens up a world of reclockers, linear power supplies and other related toys. But with a Digi+ Pro and Volumio using coax or optical out it's all pretty straight forward. 10 minutes putting it together, 10 minutes to set it up and it's done.

Convenience is somewhat in the eye of the beholder, though. It's no skin off my nose to put the kit together or to use various smartphone apps and so on. As such I find it quite convenient, but YMMV.

In the OP's case, I think that optical from Mac to DAC would be the easiest way to get what should be decent results if it's available. But something like a basic implementation of a Digi+ kit with Volumio and a USB stick for storage could be a cheap way to get results similar to an Aries Mini.

For playing a handful of downloads and some mp3s, personally I wouldn't want to spend any more.

Posted on: 10 September 2017 by Bob the Builder

The Raspberry Pi looks interesting and infact my nephew you has an old one he will donate, so can I connect to my Chord DAC and can it accept Hi Res files up to DSD. I have looked up the Roon website and Roon can be used via an SD card I believe.

Posted on: 10 September 2017 by joe9407

hiya Bob, the Pi would work well -- and you can't beat the price, even if your nephew were not donating one.

as the others say, a used Sonore microRendu would also be good and relatively within budget. i have a system similar to yours: Roon to microRendu to 2Qute to 282. i also only use Internet radio and Tidal and it's great with both!

in general, i think cashing in your NDX5 and putting the funds toward a better amp is a wise choice.

happy listening!

--joe

Posted on: 12 September 2017 by Bob the Builder

Thanks for the replies I think in the short term a Raspberry pi running Tidal and internet radio via Rune is an economic solution.

Later on I may even stretch to a used UQ2 digital out to Chord Dac. I really liked my old Qute and its fm radio is a bonus.

Posted on: 28 September 2017 by Bob the Builder

To update this thread I now have a Raspberry Pi / Digi + Pro in place of the ND5XS and connected up to my Chord 2Qute/282/300 it sounds decent enough for me at the moment. I have managed to stream Tidal using Bubbleupnp>>Minimserver>>Lumin on my iPad/iPhone and Linn Kinski>>Kazoo on my mac.

The interface isn't as slick as the Naim app on my iPhone/iPad but SQ is as good as ND5XS/2Qute to my cloth ears.